One of the most amazing thing on roads is “a fight for every second” on a traffic light.
We (people/drivers) just can’t wait for a green light. You have to start at T = -3 sec.
Just to wait on the next traffic light, or spend couple minutes to find a parking space, or wait in lobby, because your colleagues are late.
Isn’t it funny how easy we forget about our day/lifetime goals in order to grab local maximum?

I sense we do it all the time in our current state [of software development].

Recent discussion about “clojure startup time” (you can pick almost any other topic) is a good example.
It’s pointless without (at least) your workflow description.
Even if you somehow imply a goal (the goal).